Perspectives on the Indiana Economy

Joseph L. Block, born in 1902, discusses his family founding Inland Steel Company and his role as its former President. He addresses the impact of Inland Steel on Indiana, particularly during the period from 1953 until his retirement in the 1970's. He speaks of the company's role in the Ogden Dunes issue and the Burns Ditch Project, and he also comments on labor unions and diversification within his company.

Governor Otis Bowen, born 1918, discusses his approach to economic development while governor, including the East Chicago Cline Avenue extension, transportation concerns, and Indiana resources to help entice business to the state. He also talks about the 1973 tax package, the history, its benefits, and the influence of Lake County, Indiana on its passage.

John Carter, born 1920, covers banking changes and attitudes from the mid nineteen fifties through the nineteen seventies. He also covers branching regulations within the state, and the problems and potential of opening up the regulations to outside and cross county branches. Later, the subject turns more specifically to Indiana National Bank, its difficulties in the seventies, and how they overcame them.

Harry E. Chesebrough, born in 1909, discusses his career with Chrysler Motors from the early 1930's until the 1970's. The role of Chrysler Motors during the Second World War is explained at length. Chesebrough addresses the importance of Indiana as a location for the manufacturing of automotive parts and mentions the former Chrysler operation in Evansville, Indiana.

Joseph Conn, born 1918, discusses his career in various capacities with the Monon Railroad and its successors. He talks about railroad profits, grain hauling, and his participation in enticing businesses to Indiana, particularly A.E. Staley and Caterpillar. Conn also discusses his relationship with Indiana agencies, such as the Department of Commerce, and the lieutenant governor, and the problems associated with election turnover.

Indiana farmer, Harold Copp, details his lifelong career in agriculture, beginning in the 1920's. The interview addresses the drastic increase in the price of land, machinery, and rising interest rates, and the negative effects these circumstances have had on farming. Copp mentions the role of the Indiana state government in assisting agricultural development and chronicles his success as a farmer and supplier of equipment and chemicals.

Former governor of Indiana, George N. Craig, discusses economic development during his four-year term (1953-1957). Most of the interview concentrates on initiatives like the Burns Harbor Project and the Indiana Toll Road, proposed during Craig's term. The interview also addresses the lack of industry in Indiana and the scandal over the disposition of state highway funds associated with the governor. Craig also speaks about his relationship with the Pulliam Newspapers and his attitude towards federal aid.

Herman Ehrman, born 1913, begins with his personal background and experience just prior to World War II. He then delves into the changes the war forced upon the Fort Wayne International Harvester plant in terms of production, quality, and labor concerns. postwar operations and changes lead to steel crises, non-military vehicle planning, opening of the Springfield, Ohio plant, and finally experiences as plant manager concerning annexation and regulatory controls by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Rabb Emison, Jr., born 1925, delves into the creation of the Bi-State Airport Authority to manage the Lawrenceville, Illinois Municipal Airport, and the advantages and attractiveness of the airport. Included in this discussion are the comparisons between Illinois and Indiana departments, specifically the Commerce Department and Aeronautics Commission, and the rise of the air cargo business.

James Faris, born in 1926, discusses his experience as director for the Department of Financial Institutions in Indiana. He addresses the ways in which banks serve communities and the various changes to banking and financing regulations beginning with the Securities Act of 1933 and continuing through to Federal Regulation Q. He also compares Indiana banks to their national competitors and offers some recommendations for their improvement in the face of increasing technology.

John T. Hackett, born 1932, who was vice president of finance at Cummins, Incorporated, discusses the cyclical nature of the business and the steps taken as a result of recessions, such as layoffs and paycuts. In addition, Hackett gives his opinions on Indiana's positive and negative attributes for business locations, which include taxes, labor force, and banking regulations.

Lee Hall, born in 1915, provides a history of the Teledyne Portland Forge Company. He discusses his role as president of the native Indiana company and chronicles its evolution from an automotive parts manufacturer to its expansion into oil fields, farm equipment, and the truck business. He also details the character of the company's workforce and the process of selling Portland Forge shares to Teledyne.

William Heinley, born in 1915, begins with his early life and extends through the nineteen seventies. The account heavily focuses on the twenties and thirties with such topics as farming methods, land equipment prices, effects of the Great Depression, and New Deal legislation. Crop introductions, livestock farming and mechanization are concerns during the forties and fifties, while skyrocketing land prices and the decline of the automotive industry have a detrimental impact through the end seventies.

Frederick Jaicks, chairman of Inland Steel Company starting in 1971, discusses the state of the company during the 1970's. Topics include an analysis of the effects of recession on the steel industry and political involvement in tax and regulatory policy as it relates to the environment. He also mentions the relationship between Inland Steel and the Department of Commerce and the effects of economic distress on the company's relationship with its local labor unions.

Senator Richard Lugar, born in 1932, discusses the practice of receiving federal aid in Indiana. He argues that in the case of funding for highways, the people of Indiana have looked favorably upon federal aid. He also states his lack of support for Indiana to subsidize large water projects in the South and West.

Roy Meeks, born 1932, talks about finding financing for an expansion to the Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge in Lafayette, Indiana. A brief history of the motor lodge, hotel economic conditions, and financing from sources outside of Indiana are included in the discussion.

Several different speakers discussing the economic concerns of the Midwest and Indiana. Emphasis was placed on the population and industry relocation from the Midwest to the Sunbelt and the reasons for the shift. Indiana's outlook still looked favorable based on economic forecasts, such as the one by Michael K. Evans. Midwest economic myths were also discussed.

Joseph Miller, born 1909, reflects upon the influence of Cummins, Incorporated on the local economy during the Great Depression and later. Some early history, reasons behind plant locations, and postwar growth are discusses as well as the current attractiveness of Indiana for businesses and the changes.

Robert Morris, born 1911, discusses his experiences as public relations manager for the International Harvester in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He begins the account in the executive training program during the Great Depression and is eventually selected for the position he held for thirty years. Union pressures, political aspects, corporate philosophy and a host of other related topics are described during his account.

Daniel C. Orcutt, born in 1936 and serving as the executive director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority at the time of the interview, discusses a variety of issues relating to the Indianapolis Airport. He states the future prospects of air traffic expansion and the role of federal and state government in facilitating or restraining this development. He also touches upon the character of the Indianapolis Airport and details the history of the Airport Development Aid Program.

Former governor of Indiana, Robert Orr broadly discusses economic development during his term as lieutenant governor and director of the Department of Commerce. He mentions several efforts he undertook to encourage economic growth and to provide incentives for companies to conduct business in Indiana, particularly within the steel industry.

Ronald Palamara, born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1939, discusses his work with Anacomp, Inc. as one of its founders and president. He relates the history of the company between 1969 and the date of the interview. He also mentions some of the challenges that entrepreneurs in Indiana face. Finally, he talks about competition from Japanese companies and the growth of the data processing industry in general.

Two top-level executives of the Stant Manufacturing Company, David Paridy and Claire Widdows, provide an overview of the company between 1938 and 1982. They discuss the success of Indiana parts manufacturers and Stant's relationship to the automobile industry. They also detail the purchase of Stant by Purolator and the era of expansion that followed. Paridy and Widdows also mention some problems the company has had with unions such as UAW, and they analyze the education and skill level of the company's workforce.

Robert Schmidt, former plant manager at the International Harvester Company, reflects on his life before embarking on a career with the company. He describes Ft. Wayne and the early days of the company in the 1950's. Schmidt provides a background to the automotive union strike during the 1970's by discussing the role of consulting firms in cutting the workforce and the tension that existed between them and the unions.

Theodore Schulenberg, born in Farmers Retreat, Indiana in 1919, discusses state planning in Indiana within his capacity as manager of long range planning for the Indiana Department of Highways. Schulenberg elaborates on the responsibilities of the Indiana Economic Council and the Department of Commerce, particularly during Harold Handley's term as governor. He also mentions the 1963 tax reform's influences on companies and details the establishment of a state planning office in Indiana. Lastly, he compares state planning in Indiana and Massachusetts, where he was commissioner of the Department of Commerce between 1965 and 1969.

David Sells, born 1919, was a member of the United AutoWorkers. He briefly compares the current recession, particularly in the automotive industry, with the Great Depression. Also mentioned are the loss of members in the UAW, concessions the union has made, and the trouble with Indiana's economic development plans.

Charles Spratt, born 1922, discusses his work as the tax compliance manager for the Inland Steel Company in Lake County, Indiana. The major topics of discussion deal with various tax programs enacted through the years and the effects they have had on Indiana business, notably Inland Steel, as well as Federal Regulation 16. Of particular note are the problems with property taxes and the wide-sweeping reforms brought about under Governor Otis Bowen in the 1973 tax package.

Former Indiana University Chancellor Herman Wells, born 1902 and Professor Edward Edwards, born 1908, discuss banking in Indiana in the nineteen thirties. The goals of the 1933 Banking Act, and its long term effects on state banking, the branching issue and the ability of smaller banks to finance loans are included in the discussion.

Former governor of Indiana, Matthew Welsh, provides an overview of economic development during his term in office (1961-64). Welsh discusses the refusal on the part of Indiana to accept federal funds. He also mentions the debate between the dominant Republican Party and his Democratic affiliation over the tax reform of 1963, which required manufacturing companies to pay a tax to the state for the first time. Welsh also talks about the creation of Ivy Tech as a necessary vocational school, and he analyzes the current state of economic development in Indiana.

Vice president of public affairs for the International Harvester Company, Brian Whalen, born 1939, discusses elements associated with his position since 1973. Topics in the interview include site location factors particularly related to Indiana, changes in attitude about government lobbying, taxes, corporate reorganization, federal policy and the "Save the Scout Campaign."